THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, SAINATO, BRENNAN, BROOKS, V. BROWN, BROWNLEE, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, DALEY, DAVIS, DEASY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLESPIE, GOODMAN, GROVE, HAHN, HARKINS, HESS, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MANN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SONNEY, STABACK, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD, THOMAS, JOSEPHS AND EVERETT, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Commending the heroic efforts of private and public

organizations and individual responders in the wake of

flooding caused throughout Pennsylvania by Tropical Storm

Lee, and praising the leadership of Governor Tom Corbett.

WHEREAS, Beginning on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, rainfall

from Tropical Storm Lee circulated over the central and eastern

portions of Pennsylvania, held in place by Hurricane Katia which

was stalled off the mid-Atlantic coast; and

WHEREAS, Weather forecasters and emergency responders such as

the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency watched the weather

event throughout Tuesday and by Wednesday were sounding alarms

that the potential for serious flooding was becoming more and

more likely; and

WHEREAS, By Wednesday evening, evacuation orders were given

to persons living in the floodplains of Pennsylvania, and

Governor Tom Corbett used all media sources to advise everyone

to prepare for unusual flooding conditions; and

WHEREAS, The Governor activated the Pennsylvania National

Guard, public officials went door to door in flood-prone areas

urging residents to evacuate, television stations went full time

with storm-related information and public announcements, police

departments and fire departments increased their manpower by

extending shifts, citizens prepared and the American Red Cross

opened shelters for persons and pets evacuated by the storm; and 

WHEREAS, These are but a few of the outstanding efforts

exerted as flooding from the storm occurred throughout central

and eastern Pennsylvania, causing the highest water levels in

many locations of this Commonwealth since the historic flooding

caused by Hurricane Agnes in late June of 1972; and

WHEREAS, Cleaning up and restoring businesses and

neighborhoods is expected to take anywhere from a few weeks to

several years, as damage estimates climb into the hundreds of

millions of dollars; and

WHEREAS, Both President Barack Obama and Governor Corbett

have issued declarations of disaster, thereby qualifying

affected residents and business owners for Federal and State

funding assistance; and

WHEREAS, In spite of Tropical Storm Lee's devastation,

Pennsylvanians continue to work together to minimize its damage,

private and public organizations and individual responders are

demonstrating heroic selflessness, and Governor Corbett's

outstanding leadership has instilled guidance, confidence and

support at this time of trial; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the

heroic efforts of private and public organizations and

individual responders in the wake of flooding caused throughout

Pennsylvania by Tropical Storm Lee, and praise the leadership of

Governor Tom Corbett.